Ward 21 Dems Favor Elicker

The Ward 21 Democratic committee voted in favor of mayoral candidate Justin Elicker Tuesday night along with incumbent Alder Steven Winter, Board of Education incumbent Darnell Goldson, and City Clerk Michael Smart.

Of the 20 ballots cast at the meeting, held at Celentano School, the committee members voted 13 – 6 in favor of Elicker. Both Mayor Toni Harp and Elicker visited the meeting but left before the final votes were counted and announced. The candidates gave brief introductions to the committee members and the public before votes were collected.

Ward 21 covers portions of the Prospect Hill and Newhallville neighborhoods, along with a sliver of Dixwell. The committees’ votes Tuesday night were nonbinding; the two ward co-chairs are to cast official votes on party nominations at a citywide convention Thursday night.

Before and during the meeting Elicker shared his cell phone number with the public to contact him with any questions or concerns for him to help.

Before heading into the meeting Elicker introduced himself to some members of the public. ​“You’re the one I always get them calls from. You don’t ever stop trying to contact me,” said one resident after shaking hands with Elicker.

“You want a committed mayor, don’t you?” Elicker responded.

Harp said she would love to be officially endorsed after spending almost 50 years as a New Haven resident and over 30 years serving the city.

“Being the mayor of a big city is difficult,” said a committee member who voted in favor of Harp.

Committee Co-chair Katharine Sacks led the meeting and after the final vote said plans to cast an official vote in favor of the preferred candidates on Thursday at the democratic ward convention to establish who the Ward will officially endorse.

“I plan to represent the voices that came out today because that’s my responsibility,” said Sacks. (The ward’s other co-chair was not present.)

The votes favored first-term Alder Winter, who received 18 votes. He faces three challengers for the nomination. The other candidates, Streater Maceo, and Anais Nunez spoke to the audience before the votes were collected. The final candidate, Eddie Gist did not show for the meeting.

“I’ve answered every text message and responded to every phone call, every email, and did whatever I could in my power to address those concerns,” said Winter.

Committee member Malika Sharif said she attended the meeting knowing she was going to vote for Winter. Sharif said he has shown to be active, passionate, and community-driven. ​“This is not the end of his mission,” she said.

Sharif said she has seen Winter out in the community many times. He even once responded to a concern of hers by coming to her home at 10 p.m.

“He redefines commitment by elected officials,” said a committee member.

Streater gave a brief introduction of himself, sharing that he was brought up in New Haven. ​“You can’t say what somebody will do if you haven’t given them a chance to do it,” he said.

Nunez brought along her two daughters with her. ​“I will be your voice and I will fight for you,” she said. She and Mateo each picked up a vote from committee members.

The two candidates running for a Board of Education position in a district covering half the city, Goldson and Amber Moye, each spoke for five minutes at the meeting. The 11 – 9 vote favored Goldson, who is finishing his first four-year term. Goldson said his passion is to continue focusing on education and representing New Haveners.

Moye told the audience about a student she once had while teaching at Celentano, Michael. Michael was a student-athlete who loved football but rarely challenged himself academically. As his teacher, Moye recommended that he attend the city-wide science fair to prove to himself he could be successful academically. Moye said she knew she had to dedicate herself to the city’s education system after seeing Michael come home with newfound academic confidence and a science fair trophy.

Moye brought along her son A.J., who is in the third grade. She knows both the perspective as an educator and a New Haven Public School (NHPS) parent, she said.

Incumbent Michael Smart, the only candidate running for city clerk, received 16 votes. He shared with the audience some of the forms they can get at the City-Town Clerk’s Office, like a dog license application and absentee ballot.